Illume Development & Behaviour

R U Okay?

This is more than just a question, if you ask it, be prepared to listen, and make a meaningful connection.

I was supportively asked by a friend recently, with tongue in cheek, why I wasnt calorie counting (my prefered accountability method), and I responded with a list of merely some of what has been happening in my world over the last 4 months. I meant this in good humour but the jarring of my poor friend gave me pause, and it shows that we dont know what is going on in other people's lives, but connection, real connection always helps (and my friend did every good friend thing and connected and loved on me beyond anything).

R U Okay day falls in September as Sepember is Su***de Awareness month. Look to my last post for some staggering statistics 😔

It is okay to not be okay, though. Acknowledge your geelings amd your state of being...dont pretend you're okay when you're not, and for the love of God....TALK to someone.

Please please please share your thoughts as they sometimes sound different in the light, and a problem shared is a problem halved.

Stay; you story is not over

Today is the day we talk about things we are brought up to not talk about.

Su***de Statistics

8.6 Australians die every day by su***de. That’s more than double the road toll (ABS, 2022).

75% of those who take their own life are male (ABS, 2022).

An unknown number of Australians attempt su***de every year, with some estimates suggesting this figure may be over 65,000 (Slade et al, 2009).

Su***de is the leading cause of death for Australians between the ages of 15 and 44 (AIHW, 2022a).

Read those statistics again!

Su***de it heartbreaking.

Experiencing the feeling that it is the only option, watching a loved one struggle with these thoughts and beliefs, being on su***de watch for a loved one, suffering the loss when a loved one has lost their battle.

It is all horrendous, and it is happening at alarming rates 💔

Stay; your story is not over.

It is okay to not be okay.

Connection is one of the greatest combatants of su***de, so make connections, strengthen them, put time into them.

You never know what hell is happening in another person's mind.

Lots of changes with Illume Development & Behaviour over the last 6 months.

I am now working out of an office space in Kirwan.

Weekend appointments are available. And midweek appoints upon request 😊

I look forward to this new chapter 🩶🩶🩶

Today is the Big One's last speech session at Young Allied Health Young Allied Health .
We first met Miss Jess when Sid was 4, and non-verbal and attending AEIOU Foundation for Children with Autism .
We met Miss Sam as his speechie at "The Blue House" aka Cootharinga once he was at school, and she was the one who was able to say to us (when he was nearly 8) that he had enough verbal skills to warrant a speech/language assessment!

We learned Miss Jess had opened her own service, and we have been with Young Allied Health since then.
💚💚💚💚

Miss Tiff has been Sid's speechie for about 2 years and as she is off to have her baby, we're taking this opportunity to move onto an adult-focused service.

Ladies of Young, please know that it has been a blessing to have you on this journey with us. We will not be strangers, and you will always be in our hearts.





Support Local Townsville

A few weeks back, The Big One achieved a goal he set himself over a year ago.

Although he's been mowing local lawns since he was 13, last year he came to us and said he felt it important that he get a job in a business so that he can learn to work in a team and from a boss.
So begun my search for supports for him to achieve this goal.
Ricky Esterquest from Towards Better joined our team and together they identified Sid's strengths, challenges, goals and life goals. A resume was developed, jobs applied for, interviews attended, rejections experienced...more than a couple...and then the wonderful team at Coles had a place for him.

He has been working for 4 weeks now and loves it.

There are so many people who have made this happen, this is not merely a now success, but one that each and every individual who has been part of his journey has contributed to!

Those who have met Sid in the last few years have no idea of the journey he has had...to see him as a 15 year old with an independent part time job is literally miraculous.

Thank you.

This kid is amazing. His village is and always has been amazing!

AEIOU Foundation for Children with Autism
Coles
Young Allied Health
Townsville Occupational Therapy Service
Bluewater State School
Moranbah State School
St Anthony's Catholic College
Active Health Psychology
Mytime Moranbah
St Matthew's Anglican Ministry Unit, Townsville
Strand Fitness
Northcoast Combat Fitness
Cootharinga
Occumax
SK8 M8S
Australian Army Cadets

(So many others who I couldnt find to tag as well # # #)

International Women's Day

A global annual celebration with a focal point in the women's rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.

I am ALL for that!

I love having discussions of equality vs equity vs justice. With my clientele there is ALOT of discussion around "fair".

I am not a huge fan of jumping on band wagons or getting roped along on ideals...but equity and justice - heck yeah, let's look at that.

I am a woman, and proud of the things being a woman has led me to achieve. I have been blessed with privileges others have not, and I've missed opportunities others have not.
I am pleased to be on this journey of understanding through the ages and finding the balance in everyone's ideals, and I happily celebrate being a woman, and the amazing women I am privileged to know.

Happy International Women's Day ladies 🤍

celebrations at The Ville Resort-Casino for Townsville Business Women's Circle .
I'm here celebrating with some of the lovely ladies from Young Allied Health.

A wonderful guest speaker in Mona Shindy

In this life you MUST look back and acknowledge where you've come from.

Develoment and Behaviour is a marathon journey, there are no quick fixes, but when you look back you can see the journey has been made with one step after the next consistrntly miving forward.

The Big One's journey with haircuts has been similar to many others on the spectrum, including (but not limited to) events such as:
- extreme meltdowns even entering a hairdresser's (including frothing at the mouth)
- be sedated and having his head shaved at home whilst restrained
- home visiting hairdressers whilst watching iPad and being fed a constant stream of milkyways
- booked apptointments when no other clients are in a hairdresser's (with iPad and constant stream of milkyways)

It has been a couple of years now that haircuts have been a non-event but there are moments where I stop and think "holy hell! I never thought I'd see this". Today .manit is full, 4 clients, 4 barbers plus 2 extra employee lots of noise and not one single moment of anxiety!

This is why we do it.